Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

My husband's first hearing aids were from a company called Mcdonalds Hearing in Sacramento. Don't know if they are in other states but avoid them. When he tried to return the aids (within the time allowed for return) they gave him a really hard time. After a second try they took them back but then stalled us on the refund for six months with one excuse after another. We had charged the aids on a credit card. Finally I called the credit card company, spoke with someone in the fraud department and in 48 hours we had our money back. After this experience I would suggest always get everything in writing, have a signed document showing the time allowed for refund (and make sure there is a trial period), and if possible use a credit card to pay. Oh and if they take the aids back and promise a refund "soon" get a signed receipt for the aids you returned as proof of return.

How do you feel about some of the advertisements we see on TV for hearing aids? Over the counter products are now legal. Most are mere amplifiers, which is OK for people with mild to even moderate hearing loss. They are pretty much like the hearing aids of a few decades ago before they became digital devices. Those of us who have more serious hearing losses need more prescriptive devices. We're going to see a lot more advertising for basic products. Buyer beware!

so, the audiologist said that I had "moderate" hearing loss in both ears and recommended hearing aids. I go back this week. So should I go with expensive, high-tech hearing aids. I can afford it, but I am just wondering what to do.

It comes down to personal preference. We are all a little different in our choices. Your audiologist probably knows what gives his patients best results. There are some differences in the way they sound (but I'm a terrible judge of how anything sounds). Take a good look at the features and connectivity of the devices. Check the Hearing Loss Association of America web site (hearingloss.org) for their hearing aid checklist. Don't pass up features you assume you won't need. You may like them. And you can't add them later. Work them HARD during your trial period. Become familiar with the features. You'll find your own preferences that way.

arrowshooter offers gives very good advice, especially about working hard during the trial period. I would also suggest trying to be in as many "listening situations" during the trial period as you are likely to encounter in normal daily activities. It has always helped me to carry a small notebook to write down what I liked or did not like about how the hearing aid(s) performed in a variety of situations. It can be almost impossible (for me) to remember everything. This provides the hearing health professional with important information that allows them to do their best to make sure the aids perform at a high level for every individual. Yes, treating hearing loss is definitely a participation sport :-).

You may be satisfied with less expensive products, but if you can afford them, you may find the options and support you get by purchasing high end technology is worth it. Whatever you decide to do, make time to try them in every possible situation where you want to be able to hear better. Hearing aids take time to get used to.

@tarheel You have great advice here already. If you have a good audiologist who you feel will truly have your best interest at heart, then let her/him guide you. I want the most possible help I can get so I always go with the high end of things. The extra features make things easier and with hearing problems the easier things can be, the better.
JK

good advice re going with the high end hearing aid. I plan to avoid scrimping to save money, provided I think it's prudent. Main goal is to try to reduce iinnitus, and, after that, improve my hearing. Fingers crossed. Appointment tomorrow.

thanks, good advice.

@tarheel, it sounds like you will be new to hearing aids. I typically hate talking on this subject because everyone's experience is different. So many people that buy hearing aids end up putting them in the drawer. THEY DO NOT CORRECT HEARING AS GLASSES CORRECT FOR VISION. So, I make no recommendations, but only as person that has worn hearing aids for all of my adult life. Since your loss is moderate, you would be a candidate for an Over The Counter (OTC) device. The high end aids are recommended for people that have severe to profound loss and need fast processing to filter the background noise. Even with the high end aids, which I have, the background noise filtering is by no means perfect. I still struggle. The OTC devices are still not quite ready to go to mass market. Bottom line is that you may do fine with a low end product. Since you mention that you have tinnitus, maybe an aid with tinnitus masking will help. Having the amplification will help with the tinnitus but when you remove the aid at the end of the day, the tinnitus may return (as in my case). Fortunately, it goes away after a short time.
Tony in Michigan